Shaft attachment.



W. T. ARMSTRONG. SHAFT ATTACHMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1912.

1,1 1 0, 1 76. Patented Sept; 8, 1914.

Swuewlioz A1771- MWWL 83) MW 13 W/W ha attomwq THE NORRIS PETERS Co,PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHING ION D UNITE res ATENPT OFFIQE,

W'ILLIAM T. ABMSTRQNG, OF CANTON, MINNESOTA.

snarr ATTACHMENT.

and useful Improvements in-Shaft Attachments, of which the followingis aspecification.

My invention relates broadly, to the class of shaft attachment and moreparticularly to a device devised to prevent such accidents as oftenoccur in connection with horse-drawn vehicle when the horse breaks thetugs or traces and leaves the vehicle.

It is my ob ect to devise a device which connects the ends of the shaftsand in event that the horse breaks the tug he is not allowed to leavethe shaft and consequently allow the vehicle to run at will.

My invention broadly consists of a pair of caps, each being disposedupon the forward extremity of one of the shafts of the vehicle, and aconnecting member in the form of a strap or an elastic member of anykind, or ayieldable member of any kind whereby if the tugs which holdthe horse should accidentally break, he will not be allowed to move theshaft.

By the provision of this attachment, it will be readily comprehendedthat all danger of the reins being caught about the ends of the shaftsis obviated and by the provision of this feature, it will be seen thatthe efficiency of my invention is greatly added to.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention relates to suchdetails of construction and in the arrangement and combination of theseveral parts as will be here inafter fully described and specificallypointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1is a fragmentary view of the ends of a pair of shafts having myattachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of thecaps. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the connection between the connectingmember and the cap. Fig. 4 is a modification, and Fig. 5 is amodification.

In the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated the modified andpreferred form of my invention, the numeral 10 designates Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed November 12, 1912.

Patented Sept. 8, ram. Serial No. 730,830.

the shafts, each being of the ordinary form,

but it is to be understood that shafts of other forms may be used ifoccasion should require.

In the drawings, the body portions ofthe caps are designated by thenumeral 11, these body portions being hollow and provided with internalscrew threads whereby they may engage the outer extremities of theshafts and be merely held in engagement therewith. Arms 12 are formedupon the body portions, each being substantially semi-circular in form,however, one is comparatively longer than the other and carries a cap1-3at its upper face so as to provide a smooth enlarged surface upon theouter face of the cap, thereby preventing the injury of any one abuttingthe same.

The ends of the arms do not meet, whereby sufficient space is left toreceive the mem bers 14, having wedge shaped slots 15 provided thereinand a laterally extending opening 16 as is clearly shown. After themembers 1a are moved into place, it will be readily apparent that theconnecting member may be easily adjusted as will be hereinafter setforth.

The connecting member comprises a strap 17 having a buckle 18 providedupon one end, while a series of apertures 19 are provided at the otherend, the latter end being received through the buckle, the tongue 20 ofthe same engaging the apertures so that the strap can be made eitherlonger or shorter according to the will of the operator.

It will be readily recognized that the entire device can be easilyattached and detached to and from the shaft as occasion requires,however, the strap or connecting member can be removed from the capswithout taking the latter from the shaft, this being when the horse isto be hitched to the vehicle or to be removed therefrom.

In Fig. 4: I have shown a modified form of cap wherein the body portionis composed of an exteriorly screw threaded shank 21 which is receivedin an interiorly screw threaded aperture at the end of the shaft,however, the specific form of shaft has not been shown as the form is nopart of the present invention.

In Fig. 5 another, form is illustrated which consists of the provisionof a screw threaded shank 22 carrying a head portion 23 upon the upperextremity thereof, the

latter having an extension 24L formed integral therewith as is clearlyshown. Arnie 25 extend laterally from the extension and provide meansfor securely holding the members let in place after once being insertedtherein, thus obviating the danger of the strap from Working loose Whileeach 01'? the ditterent forms of caps have proven e'flicient in us, itwill be recognized that either term may be used if occasion shouldrequire.

It is thought from the foregoing that the advantages and novel featuresof my device will be fully appreciated I desire it to be understood thatI may make slight changes in the construction and in the arrangement andcoinoination of the several parts, provided, however, such changes fallWithin the scope ot the sub-- joined claim.

Having thus fully described my invent-ion What ill claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Guard hooks for vehicle shaft guaros comprising in combination, a hookof ring;-

like form attached to the end of each shaft and disposed horizontallywhen the shafts are in a normal position, each ringlike hook beinginterrupted to form a nori'nally open entrance throat for attachment ofthe guard. and the throat of each hook being disposed laterally outwaror the longitudihal axis oi the shaft to thereby form relatively longand relatively short shanks for each hook, the shank having a largecircular head transversely of the axis of respece shaft and forming ashield, and a guard flexible end members provided With L shaped openingslongitudinally dis- C an lfOtjPtUL to the longitudinal axis oi? theguard and adapted to be forced over flopies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, F). C.

